Hi all, I am sure this has been covered before but I am honestly too tired this morning to search the way I should.
I have a DD who is 4.5 and a DS who is 8. We have practised co-sleeping since both were born. Up until a year ago both kids had their own beds or sleeping spaces in our room but DD would mostly crawl into bed with us. We moved them both into a room together and the transition went very smoothly for DS-DH still came and crawled into bed with us. We just transitioned them into their own rooms. DH seemed to LOVE it! She spent the first 2 nights in her own room! Now she is going back to coming in with Mommy and Daddy in the middle of the night. For the last few nights DH and I will walk her back to her bedroom, tuck her in, and rub her legs whiles she goes back to sleep. And within an hour or 2 she is back in my bedroom tapping on my forehead.
So, what is the problem with just letting her sleep in our bed?? Well, she is getting bigger and squirmier. We have a queen size bed (and we can't really afford a new king) and are finding that NONE of us are getting a good night sleep that way. Mommy, Daddy and DD are waking up cranky with not enough sleep every morning. I understand that she may just want to be near one of us at night. I sympathize but it is becoming increasingly unhealthy for all concerned. DH is getting migraines at work from lack of sleep. I am not (to put it nicely) at my best during the day. Additionally, we are homeschoolers and it's not fair to DS to have a sleepy teacher. Not to mention that DD has many behaviour problems because she is sleepy. Naps for her are not very desirable because it messes up bedtime. Sleeping in for her isn't an option because since she is in our bed, she wakes up with us and won't stay in bed.
Please if anyone has any advise on how to gently help DD sleep all night on her own, let er buck!
Peace, Kelly Jo

I honestly have not gone through this because my kids are so much younger. But, how about being firm about her sleeping on a seperate bed in your room. If she's not going to sleep in her own bed than she can sleep in this twin bed, air mattress, sleeping bag on the floor, whatever in your room. But, not in mommy and daddy's bed.

The other thing I've heard of people doing is moving themselves back to junior's bed when junior moves into their bed. DD comes to your bed, you get her back to sleep and then go sleep in their bed. Everyone gets a better night's sleep. Alot of people play musical beds.

Good luck. Maybe someone who's BTDT will have better ideas.

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How about bringing her bed into your room? This is what we do with my DD who is about the same age-- DH and I have our space back, but I can reach out and comfort DD without having to wake up completely. I know what you mean about the squirming! I have a hard time sleeping with her in my bed now that she's older.